Lazy seed starting

[Christopher Gussman]

I am still a relative "newbie" to growing Arisaemas, but I have had luck
growing seeds and first year tubers of a few species using a method which
may make things easier for people with busy schedules.   After germinating
the seeds on moist paper, I have set up plastic pots (3.5" or 4") using
layers of soil.  On the bottom I have used sterilized soil from my garden
(clay loam?) and about 1/4 up begin mixing with a commercial soil-less
potting mix (e.g. pro-mix).  when the pot is about 1/2 full I water with a
solution of complete fertilizer (Peters 20-20-20)I then reduce the garden
soil and begin mixing with more and more perlite, sand, or a combo.  When
almost to the top I plant the seeds, water slightly with plain water, then
top with perlite or perlite/sand or sand.   The pot is placed in a zip-loc
plastic bag and placed under fluorescent lights.  The great thing is the
plants then grow and you do not need to worry about watering.  The tubers
develop near the top where the "soil" is very loose and free-draining, and
the roots can grow down into soil with more moisture and nutrients.   If the
bags have a lot of condensation you can open it and let them dry out.  This
has worked with triphyllum, which may be more moisture tolerant, flavum,
which is also relatively easy, but also sikokianum which supposedly rots
easier than others and heterophyllum.  With some of these I have
replanted1st year tubers, into the same sort of layered system, triphyllums
are almost complete their second growth cycle, heterophyllum and sikokianum
just starting.   It may be worth a try, especially if you can not be there
to tend your plants every day.



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